Archives for August 2016

Paris. Metz. Verdun. Bitche. These are all the places I visited in France. I went to Paris twice, once with my family and once with my BFF and RD for a 40th birthday cooking weekend celebration. Anywhere in France is really my favorite. I can’t believe I didn’t frequent the country more since I lived on the border of Germany and France. Come and talk a walk through France with me for a moment. I may leave a few things I learned as well.

PARIS

It’s Paris!

What is there to say except that you must go if you haven’t been! I have been twice and still haven’t seen all there is to offer.

METZ

We stopped at Metz on the way to Verdun. It’s a quaint little French town that is known to local Americans as “THE” flea market destination. We got to explore on a market day which was bustling with lots of people and vendors.

VERDUN

Verdun is a the bloodiest battle site of WWI.

It was also the longest battle lasting from February 21 to December 18 in 1916.

The 303 day battle left behind 976,000 casualties.

L’ossuaire de Douaumont is a memorial that contains the actual bones and remains of the fallen. You can actually look inside the tombs and see the bones inside the ossuary.

Actual trenches used in WWI!

Bitche

Yep, I typed that correctly. Bitche was about 40 minutes from my house. The Citadel is so amazing! My kids and parents got to go with us as we explored this 13th century fortress. It was used throughout history and in WWII. It was one of the busiest military camps due to its location close to the German border and Maignot Line.

Well, I couldn’t help it!

I love all my memories I have living overseas, but France is special because of the food and all the history. A French breakfast was always a favorite of mine at a little cafe or patisserie. Coffee and baguettes are the center of my breakfast. Surprisingly, salad was also a side dish I would find on my morning plate.

My memories of France gave me the inspiration for this recipe, since the theme of The Recipe Redux is about places we have traveled. I wanted to put my spin on my French favorites. Bon appetit!

Breakfast is the first meal of the day and my first topic in my How to Feed Your Kids with ADHD series. We all have heard how breakfast in the most important meal of the day over and over! For kids with ADHD, breakfast proves to be medicine in getting their day started on the right foot. It’s hard work trying to concentrate all day for an ADHD kid so fueling them with lean protein, fiber, and antioxidant filled fruit is going to set them on a path to success.

Now, getting them to do eat that healthy breakfast is a whole other ballgame! I have great respect for all you parents of picky eaters, because I have one myself! There have been some days that I was just glad my kid ate something. What I did find out about my own child is that he had a whole other issue going on. Many times kids with ADHD can be picky eaters due to sensory issues. It is actually very common, and you have to get really creative to get these kids to try and eat new foods or textures. If you do have a child who has a hard time trying new foods, get help from a registered dietitian and a speech pathologist with experience in sensory issues.

The first step in a feeding your ADHD child breakfast is building a arsenal of ideas that your ADHD child will eat. Sit down with your child and have them tell you their favorite breakfast foods and break it down into types of bread, cereal, fruit, dairy, beverages, and proteins. Try to substitute less healthy favorites for more nutritious ones. For instance, substitute whole wheat bread for white bread. Look for a higher fiber (3-5 grams) and lower sugar cereals (<10 grams). Do a taste test with the whole family to get everyone on board with healthy changes. We do blind fold challenges in my family to make it fun. Please don’t pressure your child to like something but use positive reinforcement. If they don’t like it the first time, bring it back later to try it again. It may take several times for a child to accept a new food. It’s a victory just for them to pick it up and check it out.

The second step is finding good ideas and having your child help make it. Introduce new items over a weekend where they can help you cook. Getting them involved in the process can help with food acceptance because they are involved in it. I am a huge advocate of having your kids in the kitchen. My kids have helped me since they could walk. It gets messy, but it is so much fun!

The third step is stop buying unhealthy competing foods. If your child loves Pop Tarts, they are less likely to want any of the new choices. Please don’t set them up for failure by keeping the high sugar cereal or Pop Tarts on hand.

The fourth step is planning and execution. You have to plan it out! I realize it doesn’t always go as planned but having a plan in place helps set your child up for success in their school day. Having some back up choices is always a good idea. I also like to give my child a couple of choices the night before so he knows what to expect. He isn’t surprised or disappointed when he gets it the next day.

I am really happy to introduce a series close to my heart and my head. ADHD is something that is very personal me and my elementary age son. I honestly don’t see this as a disorder. I see it as a gift. People with ADHD are smart, innovative, and can do anything! This doesn’t mean it isn’t challenging, especially in school.

ADHD has 3 types:

Inattentive Type

Hyperactive Impulsive Type

Combination Type

School can be very difficult for some of these kids. The large class size, lack of movement, and reduced recess time are huge barriers for these kids since they struggle with paying attention, organization, impulsiveness, and forgetting things, among a few. Exercise and diet are proven key elements in managing ADHD. I am going to break down what you can do to help the diet of your child down into 7 distinct posts.

I want to take you through key dietary changes you can make to help your child(ren) successful in their everyday lives. ‘One size fits all’ doesn’t work with these kids in school, life, or ADHD management. They are unique individuals with different learning styles and different tastes. Working closely with a team of doctors, psychologists, dietitians, teachers, occupational therapists, and behavior therapists are your best bet to getting your child on the right path. You cannot medicate ADHD out of a child.You can help them develop a toolbox of strategies in diet, exercise, and life. It takes time. It takes dedication as a parent. Don’t give up! Make small changes and don’t overwhelm your child. Modeling healthy behaviors are key for these kids.

As a parent of a child with ADHD, I adore our kids! I love helping them, and I hope you enjoy this series!